**Prominent Figures in Marine Conservation:**
– Rachel Carson: Marine biologist, Writer, Environmental Campaigner
– Jacques Cousteau: Explorer, Conservationist, Researcher & Author
– Sylvia Earle: Marine Biologist, Explorer, & Author
– Steve Irwin: Naturalist, Conservationist, Zoologist, Herpetologist, & TV Personality
– Paul Watson: Quote – ‘If the oceans die, we all die.’
**Human Impacts on Marine Ecosystems:**
– Increasing human populations lead to increased impact on ecosystems
– Extinction rate of species rises due to human activities
– Coral reefs threatened by overfishing, tourism, and CO2 emissions
– Oil spills contribute to marine pollution
– Shipping introduces exotic marine species and harms whale populations
**Threats to Marine Life:**
– Overfishing decreases oceans’ wildlife population
– Invasive species disrupt ecosystem balance and lead to species demise
– Endangered species like sea turtles and Pacific bluefin tuna face population declines
– Marine plants like Johnsons seagrass are declining due to various factors
– Human activities threaten coral reefs, critical biodiversity hotspots
**Conservation Techniques and Efforts:**
– Strategies include marine protected areas and sustainable fisheries
– Innovative technologies reduce by-catch and benefit marine life
– Laws and treaties like the Marine Mammal Protection Act and UN Convention on the Law of the Sea support conservation
– Global initiatives like the UN Sustainable Development Goal 14 aim to protect marine areas
– Various campaigns and organizations advocate for marine conservation
**History and Initiatives in Marine Conservation:**
– Key events like the passage of the Marine Protection, Research, and Sanctuaries Act in 1972
– Notable initiatives like Mission Blue founded by Sylvia Earle
– Conservation organizations like Ocean Conservancy and Greenpeace leading advocacy efforts
– International agreements and organizations supporting marine conservation
– Ocean conservation initiatives utilizing technology and public awareness campaigns
Marine conservation, also known as ocean conservation, is the protection and preservation of ecosystems in oceans and seas through planned management in order to prevent the over-exploitation of these marine resources. Marine conservation is informed by the study of marine plants and animal resources and ecosystem functions and is driven by response to the manifested negative effects seen in the environment such as species loss, habitat degradation and changes in ecosystem functions and focuses on limiting human-caused damage to marine ecosystems, restoring damaged marine ecosystems, and preserving vulnerable species and ecosystems of the marine life. Marine conservation is a relatively new discipline which has developed as a response to biological issues such as extinction and marine habitats change.
Marine conservationists rely on a combination of scientific principles derived from marine biology, Ecology, oceanography, and fisheries science, as well as on human factors, such as demand for marine resources, maritime law, economics, and policy, in order to determine how to best protect and conserve marine species and ecosystems. Marine conservation may be described as a sub-discipline of conservation biology.